Rail-joint fastener.



PATENTED Nov. 8. 1904.

" J. A. GossARD, JR.

RAIL JOINT FASTENBR.

APPLICATION FILED.FEB.29,1904.

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No. 774,581. PATENTED Nov. 8. 1904. J. A. GUSSARD, JR. i

RAIL JOINT PASTENBR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 29, 1904.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Jun www A BK A TTORNE YS Patented November 8,1904.

.PATENT Omron.

JOHN A. GOSSARD, JR., OF SOUTH SOLON, OHIO.

RAIL-JOINT FASTENER.

sPiaorFroAcrIo1\iv forming part ef Lettere Patentivo. 774,581, dated November s, 1904.

Application led February Z9, 1904. Serial No. 195,816. (No model dent of South Solon,lin the county of Madison and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Rail-Joint Fastener, of which the following is a full, clear, and eXact description.

This invention relates to detachable means for securing railroad track-rails together at their meeting ends, and has for its object to provide novel details of construction for a rail-joint fastener which are adapted to be placed in position for securing together two meeting ends of track-rails under spring tension oi parts ot' the fastener by the use ot suitable tools or be removed by the same means, as occasion may require, a further object being to provide a rail-joint fastener-.that is held in place for connection of the rail ends and their lateral support at the joint by the spring tension of its parts only and is devoid of bolts and nuts usually employed.v

The invention consists in the novel construe:

tion and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described, and defined in the appended claims. Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a partly sectional plan View of two track-rails at their meeting ends and of.`

than the plate shown in Fig. 3 and which in pairs embraces the webs of rail ends to be coupled therewith. Fig. 5 is a side view of the ends ot' two meeting' track-rails and of details of the improved rail-fastener mounted thereon,

-said parts being disposed for initiating the locking adjustment of the same by a rocking movement of a spring latching-plate that is a detail of the invention. Fig. 6 is a side view of the locking device or rail-fastener, showing other details applied and in position tov the ballsand bases ot' the track-rails.

receive locking'adjustment to be effected by rocking the spring latching-plate. Fig. 7 is a plan view ot' one of apair .of locking-bars employed. Fig. 8 vis a -plan viewof a lockingbar of changed formv and which in duplicate forms details or' the invention. Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view of an end portion of the locking-bar shown in Fig. 8 and a side view of a perforated end portion otl a clamping-plate engaged with said locking-bar, the section being substantially on the line 9 9 in Fig. 1; and Fig. 1() is a side view oi' two trackrails at their meeting ends, showing oblong' perforations in the web of one of said rails, which are essential details for connection of the improved rail-fastener with the trachrails near their joint.

In the drawings, 10 represents the ordinary base-ianges of two track-rails having smaller weight and gage, 11 vthe like balls or head portions of the rails,'and 12 the rail-Webs, which extend as flatintegral portions between Two duplicateV clamping plates 13- are provided, that are fitted liatwise between the bases and balls of the track-rails and seat oppositely upon the rail-webs 12, whereon they are held at an equal distance `Jfrom the joint y between the ends of the meeting rails by means hereinafter fully described.

The clamping-plates 13are each perforated at two points which. 4areequally distantrom the ends of the clamping-plates,and as shown in Fig. 1to1' one clamping-plate these similar pert'oiations each consist ot' a short longitudinal slot a, that at the end nearest the adjacent end of the plate merges into a circularlyenlarged opening ct'. Ata short distance t'rom the slots a, that are formed with the circular enlargements a', a similarslotd2 is formed in each end portion of eachclamping-plate 13, and these second sets of slots 4fare enlarged circularly near their endswhich are farthest from the slots a, as at a3, so that it will be seen that in each clamping-plate 13, ynear each end thereof, two slotted openingsV having circular enlargements at their outermost ends are formed.

As is clearly represented in Figs. 1 and 10, in the railwebs 12, at points which are oppo- IOO site the circular enlargements a and f5 in the l clamping-plates 13, elongated circular-ended l holes [of are formed in said rail-webs, so as to produce alined elongated openings through the web and clamping-plates.

Two similar locking devices 14, of metal, which are preferably rounded in eross-secl tion, areV coacting details of the invention, said locking devices, which are represented in Figs. 1, 5, and 7, each being' in the form of a metallic bar that for a main portion of its length is straight this straight portion of each locking-bar 14l being so proportioned that it extends a suitable distance over each rail-web when in position for service. At one end of each locking-bar 14 an arm 14l is bent laterally, so as to project the arm substantially at a right angle to the longitudinal aXis ofthe bar, and, as shown in Fig.7, a curved bend and a curved sloping formation 7) intervene the arm 14 and the straight portion of each locking-bar. In the upper and lower surfaces of the .respective arms 14rl two spaced rectangular channels c are formed transversely and oppositely in pairs, which leaves a parallel-sided member c between each pair of channels of such thickness as will permit the fr ee introduction of a respective member c into a complementary slot a after the rounded end of the arm 14 has been inserted through the circular opening a' at the end of said slot. As shown in Fig. 1, the arm 14a on each locliy ing-bar 14 may be passed through the opposite circular openings a in each clampingplate 13, and at the same time the ends of the arms are inserted through the oblong circularly-ended openings al in the rail-webs, and it will be seen that by drawing the bars toward each other the fiattened members a' on the arms 14 may be inserted into the slots a and bind the clamping-plates 13 upon the railwebs 12. The relative length of the lockingbars 14L is such that they will lap somewhat past each other at their near ends when the arms 14 are engaged with the rail-webs and clamping-plates 13, as stated, and upon these adjacent ends of the lockingbars arms 14b are formed. The arm 14b for each locking-bar 14 is located in the same horizontal plane with the arm 14a-that is, on the other end of said bar-#and projects at a right angle in an opposite direction, as is clearly shown in Fig. 7. Each arm 14" is rounded in the body and transversely channeled on opposite sides near its free end, these flat-bottomed channels producing parallelsided members, such as c'. (Shown in Fig. 9.)

A spring latching-plate 15 coacts with the locking-bars 14 and, asis shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 5, consists of a flat rectangular elongated strip of resilient plate metal having a suitable length and width. At points equally distant from and near the longitudinal center of the latching-plate 15 two similar slot-open ings (Z are formed in said plate, said openings,

that are suitably positioned near opposite edges of the plate, each having a circular enlargement Z' at the end of the slot which is f nearest to a respective end of the latchingplate. i that the cylindrical bodies of the arms 14" The openings CZ' are of such diameter may be inserted therethrough, so that the free ends of said arms will project outward, i, and obviously after their insertion the parallelsided members c on the arms 14h may be located in the slots CZ by a sliding movement of the locking-bars toward said slots. At each end of the latching-plate 15 a slot e is formed-that is, at the transverse center of the plate-and extends longitudinally of sufficient length to provide two spaced resilient fingers e' thereon.

In assembling the parts of the rail-joint fastener that have been described the clamping-plates 13 are placed opposite each other over the webs of the track-rails at their meeting ends, so that the arms 14 may be passed through the alined circular openings a in the clamping-plates and also through the oblong openings af in the webs of the track-rails. Two traclzmen, each having a crowbar, now press upon the outer sides of the arms 14, so as to move the parallel-sided members, such as c, into the slots a in the clamping-plates 13. The locking-bars 14 may be bent, as shown in Fig. 5, so as to spread their arms 14b apart a suitable degree when the other arms are intcrlocled within the slots a in the clampingplates. The latching-plate 15 is now engaged with the arms 14" by passing them outward through the circular ends of the slots (l, the latching-plate being inclined edgewise from a horizontal plane to permit such an engagement to be effected, thus disposing the latching-plate as shown in Fig. 5. The position of the latching-plate now is such that the ends of said plate are disposed opposite the slopes on the locking-bars 14 and near the outer surfaces of said bars. The latching-plate 15 is now rocked edgewise in direction of the arrow in Fig. 5, so as to force the fingers e' to embrace the bent portion Z), that is at the heel of each arm 14, and this will also pull the flattened members, such as o on the arms 14", into the slots cl.

For railroads using a light-bodied trackrail the rail-fastening device that has been described will be very effective and reliable, serving to retain the track-rails alined with each other at their joints and permitting a slight resilience in the coupling connection that is advantageous.

To render the device perfectly reliable for service in connection of track-rails of heavy character and capable of securing the rails at their joints on curves or straight track, additional features are added to the details al ready described.

In Fig. 8 one of a pair of locking-bars 16 is shown, that are additional details of the invention in its completed form. Each locking- IOO IIO

bar 16 consists of a straight body portion having a short lateral arm 16a formed on one end and an arm 16b extended at the same side of the body portion from the opposite end of the same. The arm 16a on each locking-bar 16 is transversely and rectangularly grooved, as at 7L, on opposite sides of its rounded body, thus producing a parallel-sided member, such as c in Fig. 9, thereon. The arm 16h, that projects parallel with the arm 16, is of a greater length than the latter, and in the same horizontal planes occupied by the opposite channels or grooves 7a in the arm 16Il two spaced rectangular channels or grooves a' are formed in the arm 16b on each locking-bar 16. The like grooves or channels f/, formed in opposite sides of each arm 16", are arranged oppositely in pairs, producing flattened formations c' thereon.

As before mentioned and shown in Figs. 1 and 10, an oblong opening a* is formed in each rail-web at points which will adapt said openings to register, respectively, with the slots t2 and circular enlargements a3 of said slots at corresponding ends of the clampingplates 18. At m on each locking-bar 16 and near the arms 16h an obtuse angular bend is formed, the bodies of the locking-bars remaining' in the same planes with the arms at' each end thereof. The arms 16b are in service inserted through the alined circular openings in the clamping plates 13 and also through the oblong openings in the rail-webs that register therewith. Forcible pressure may now be applied upon the arms 16h with crowbars or the like, so as to press them endwise toward each other, and thus cause the short arms 16 to lap -slightly past and one above the other.

A latching-plate 17 is a completing' detail of the invention and, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, consists of a normally flat thin plate of resilient metal that may be similar to the latching-plate 15 in shape, with the exception that it is somewhat longer than said latchingplate. At an equal distance each side of the longitudinal center of the body of the plate 17 two slot-openings are respectively formed, these slots being' similar to the slots Z in the latching-plate 15 and merge at their ends that are farthest from each other into circular enlargements like the enlargements CZ' in said latching-plate. At the transverse center in each end of the latching-plate 17 a longitudinal slot 0 is formed of suitable length and width, the corners at the ends of said slots being preferably rounded, as indicated in Fig. 6, and said slots produce two resilient fingers o at each end of the plate 17. In the application of the latching-plate 17 the short arms 16a are respectively inserted through the circular end portions of the slot-openings near the center of the plate 17 and the openings are so spacedv apart, considered transversely of the plate, that said latching-plate It will be seen in Fig. 1 that the angular bends m in the bodies of the locking-bars 16 4adapt the straight portions of said bars to occupy the same vertical plane one above the other and near to the outer surface of the latching-plate 15 and, furthermore, that these bends also afford inclined sides m between the bends m and the arms 16a.

rl`he length of the latching-plate 17 is so proportioned that the lingers 0 thereon will be adapted to ride over and interlock with the inner surfaces of the inclines fm. near the bends m when the latching-plate is rocked so as to cause its vends to contact with the locking-bars 16. Upon the application of a crowbar or other lever to the latching-plate 17 for rocking it into a horizontal position the flattened places, such as c on the arms 16, will be partially or completely drawn into the slots n, and the lingers o will be sprung into clasping engagement with the inclines m on the locking-bars 16, this engagement being indicated in Fig. 1.

It will be seen that the relative construction and particular connection of the locking-bars with the clamping-plates and resilient latching-plates, as hereinbefore described, serves to bind these parts in interlocked engagement 9 with each other when they are adjusted by` levers to draw upon the lockingbars and subsequently rock the latching-plates into locking engagement with the latter, the torsional strain put upon the latchingplates serving to lock them in position for holding other details of the rail-joint -fastener interlocked and reliably secured as a concrete device.

If occasion requires, the rail-fastening device may be readily removed from the railjoint by means of crowbars or similar levers applied to spring the latching-plates 15 17, so as to release them from the locking-bars 14 16 and also draw or press the locking-bars endwise to permit their arms to be detached from the clamping-plates 13 in an obvious manner.

It is claimed that the improved rail-joint fastener is simple, durable, reliable in service, and may be applied or removed quickly, as occasion may require.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A rail-joint fastener, comprising clamping-plates imposed on opposite sides of the rail-webs at a rail-joint, said webs and plates having opposite transverse openings therein, locking-bars, each having a lateral arm at one end, said arms having interlocked engagement within the openingin the clamping-plates and rail-webs, and means for releasably holding the locking-bars in interlocked engagement with said clamping-plates and rail-webs.

2. A rail -joint fastener, comprising flat clamping-plates imposed on opposite sides of IOO the rail-webs at a rail-joint, said webs and plates having opposite transverse openings therein, said openings in the plates near their ends each consisting of a longitudinal slot merging at one end into a circular opening,

locking-bars each having a laterally-extended arm at one end, said'arrns each having fiattened formations thereon adapted for interlocked engagement within the slot-openings, and means for releasably holding the arms of the locking-bars in interlocked engagement with the clamping-plates and the rail-webs.

3. A rail-joint fastener, comprising two clamping-plates imposed on opposite sides of the rail-webs at a rail-joint, said plates near their ends having opposite longitudinal slotopenings therein that merge at their outer ends in circular enlargements, these paired slot-openings being opposite oblong openings formed in the rail-webs, two locking-bars each having a laterally-extended arm at one end, said arms each having two spaced flattened formations thereon respectively adapted to interengage with the slots in the clamping-plate ends, and means for holding the locking-bars adjusted so as to prevent release of their arms from the clamping-plates and rail-webs. p

lf. A rail -joint fastener, comprising two clamping-plates imposed on opposite sides of rail-webs at a rail-joint, said plates near their ends having longitudinal slot-openings terminating at their outer ends in circular enlargements, these enlargements and slot-openings being in pairs opposite an oblong opening in a respective rail-\veb, two locking-bars each having a laterally-bent arm on each end, said arms trending oppositely, two spaced flattened formations on one arm on each locking-bar, these flattened formations on a respective arm being adapted for interengagement within the longitudinal slots in the clamping-plates at respective ends thereof, and releasable means engaging the remaining arms of the lockingbars for holding the other arms interloelied within the slots in the clamping-plates.

5. A rail -joint fastener, comprising two clamping-plates imposed on opposite sides of rail-webs at arail-joint, said plates near their ends having longitudinal slot-openings terminating at their outer ends in circular enlargements, these paired slot-openings being opposite oblong openings in the rail-webs, two locking-bars each having a laterally-bent arm on each end, the arm at one end of each lockingbar being longer than the one at the other end, each bar being formed with an incline l that extends from the heel of the longer arm toward the shorter arm, each longer arm having two spaced flattened formations on opposite sides thereof, said fiattened formations being adapted for interengagement within the slots in the clamping-plates, the shorter arms each having a flattened formation near its free end on opposite sides thereof, a latching-plate having spaced resilient fingers at each end, and two longitudinal slots therein near the longitudinal center of the plate, terminating at their outer ends in circular enlargements, the flattened formations on each short arm having interengagement within said slots when the latching-plate is disposed at an angle to the longitudinal plane of the locking-bars, and

serving to hold said bars in'locled engagement and under tensional strain when lsaid latching-plate is rocked toward the inclines on the loclzing-bars so as to clasp the resilient fingers thereon.

6. A rail-joint fastener, comprising two clamping-plates imposed on opposite sides of two rail-webs at a rail-joint, said plates and rail-webs having spaced opposite slot-openings therein at two points near each end of the plates, two pairs of locking-bars, each pair `having arms at each end, and fiattened formations on each arm, certain of said fiattened formations having interengagement within corresponding slot-openings in the clampingplates, the arms at the other ends of each pair of locking-bars each having a fiattened formation on opposite sides thereof, near the free end, two similar latching-plates, each having a pair of spaced resilient fingers at each end thereof and also having a pair of spaced longitudinal slots near the longitudinal center, each pair of slots in a latching-plate receiving the ends of respective arms and the flattened formations thereon, when thelatching-plates are disposed diagonally to the longitudinal planes of respective pairs of locking-bars, and putting said bars, along with the plates, under tensional strain when the latching-plates are rocked toward respective pairs of locking-bars for locked engagement of the resilient fingers on the latching -plates with corresponding locl ing-bars.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JGHN A. GOSSARD, JR.

IOO 

